MCB Camp Pendleton

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Lance Cpl. Trenton Lewis, an Marine air Group - 39 armorer, reflects on the mission ahead as the sun rises from behind Pendleton's mountains.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis

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MAG-39 refreshes combat skills for Iraq deployment

27 Jul 2005 | Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Any other day, Marines from Marine Aircraft Group 39's Headquarters and Support Squadron can be seen grasping staplers and stacking papers. The Camp Pendleton-based unit went from the office to the field to hone their basic combat skills for preparation for their upcoming deployment to Iraq.

The training is designed to prepare Marines for potential dangers they might face when they deploy to Iraq - mainly during convoys and close-quarter battle.

Early morning on July 27, the Marines mounted 7-ton trucks for an exercise that would last three days. The training kicked off at Range 300, where the Marines fired shotguns, pistols and rifles.

Then they zipped to Range 406 to fire the big guns - the M-2 .50 caliber machine gun, M-240 G medium machine gun and MK19 40 mm machine gun.

"Shooting the big guns always gets your adrenaline pumping," Krause said.

Day two consisted of convoy operations training on Highway 101 - teaching the Marines how to react if an insurgent attacks their vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

The Marines were instructed to move quickly and stay alert. Complacent Marines were attacked with air horns to simulate gunfire.

Then the convoy continued until they reached the Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility here for close-quarter battle training by MOUT instructor Lance Cpl. Matt Gamel.

"MOUT is most critical (in Iraq). Everyone should have a basic idea of MOUT," he said.

After the instruction, the Marines checked their gear and prepared for a mock war.

The exercise also showed the Marines why situational awareness is important in a combat environment.

"I was standing next to Lance Cpl. Lewis and brass flew out of his ejection port cover. It hit my neck when I was trying to reload," said Pfc. Christopher A. Couch, MAG-39 administrative clerk.

"I'm (expletive) that I'm going to have a scar, but I'm glad I kept my bearing," Couch said. The final day included a hike through the dirt paths of Pendleton.

They traveled along trails until they reached the helo-landing zone - to go from the dirt back to the sky.

Overall, the Marines of MAG-39 thought the training was educational, including one Marine who participated in last year's "Warrior Training."

"It gets people from the office to train like the grunts - gives them a taste of what grunts taste everyday," said Cpl. Steven C. Krause, MAG-39 administrative clerk.

Lance Cpl. Trenton Lewis, an Marine air Group - 39 armorer, reflects on the mission ahead as the sun rises from behind Pendleton's mountains.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis

Download

Details

MAG-39 refreshes combat skills for Iraq deployment

27 Jul 2005 | Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

PRINT

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Any other day, Marines from Marine Aircraft Group 39's Headquarters and Support Squadron can be seen grasping staplers and stacking papers. The Camp Pendleton-based unit went from the office to the field to hone their basic combat skills for preparation for their upcoming deployment to Iraq.

The training is designed to prepare Marines for potential dangers they might face when they deploy to Iraq - mainly during convoys and close-quarter battle.

Early morning on July 27, the Marines mounted 7-ton trucks for an exercise that would last three days. The training kicked off at Range 300, where the Marines fired shotguns, pistols and rifles.

Then they zipped to Range 406 to fire the big guns - the M-2 .50 caliber machine gun, M-240 G medium machine gun and MK19 40 mm machine gun.

"Shooting the big guns always gets your adrenaline pumping," Krause said.

Day two consisted of convoy operations training on Highway 101 - teaching the Marines how to react if an insurgent attacks their vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

The Marines were instructed to move quickly and stay alert. Complacent Marines were attacked with air horns to simulate gunfire.

Then the convoy continued until they reached the Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility here for close-quarter battle training by MOUT instructor Lance Cpl. Matt Gamel.

"MOUT is most critical (in Iraq). Everyone should have a basic idea of MOUT," he said.

After the instruction, the Marines checked their gear and prepared for a mock war.

The exercise also showed the Marines why situational awareness is important in a combat environment.

"I was standing next to Lance Cpl. Lewis and brass flew out of his ejection port cover. It hit my neck when I was trying to reload," said Pfc. Christopher A. Couch, MAG-39 administrative clerk.

"I'm (expletive) that I'm going to have a scar, but I'm glad I kept my bearing," Couch said. The final day included a hike through the dirt paths of Pendleton.

They traveled along trails until they reached the helo-landing zone - to go from the dirt back to the sky.

Overall, the Marines of MAG-39 thought the training was educational, including one Marine who participated in last year's "Warrior Training."

"It gets people from the office to train like the grunts - gives them a taste of what grunts taste everyday," said Cpl. Steven C. Krause, MAG-39 administrative clerk.